Home    Happenings    Iwa    Word Of Mouth    Photo Gallery   Spotlight      Travelogue   Words Of Wisdom   Contact   Comments 

When an event is scheduled and something does not go, as it should, who should take the blame? Is it the promoter who sponsors the event? Is it the artist who may or may not show up? Or is blame to be placed on both sides?

According to Rudy, of Satisfactions Promotion, who has been promoting vintage shows for many years, the artist is to be blamed for a show that is not satisfactory. He says that when the artist is paid money upfront, given accommodation and transportation fee to come to an event, they are not satisfied and he/she will do a ‘stick up’ for more money at the time of the event. Some artist will come to the venue, minutes before they should be on stage, even though they were booked to fly in days earlier. Again the promoter is putting out to rearrange flights, when the artist should have been paying for that.

Other artists he says, will not want the hotel that was booked and paid for, wanting instead, to go to another, and expecting the promoter to pick up the tab. Rudy further states that as far as he is concerned, there are some artists that he would never, ever, put on his shows, even if they want to perform for free. He did give a list of names but I will not reveal them here.

I want to know if contracts are not signed. Not so says Rudy. All the money is paid up front, and a verbal agreement is all that exists. So taking an artist to court and trying to recoup some of the losses is not something that is practiced.

If the promoters want to stop crying when an artist perform a ‘stick up’ they have to step up and stop pandering to all the extra needs of these artists. "I will only perform if you go and get this and that for me."

Become professional in your dealing with the artist, introduce them to contracts, after all, when they get on major labels they will be working with contracts. Look at it as doing them a favor. If they agree to a set price, stick to the agreement, after all if you don’t put them on a show, they have no fans to please. Stop letting the artist dictate the price they will work for. Is it the same fee as when they perform at the club or venue that says, we begin at this time, we end at this time, and this is what we are paying you?

Remember the buying public, they put up their money, the whole heap a money, to help you make the show a financial success. They will curse the promoter quicker than they will curse the artist, because when the show flops, it must have been something that the promoter did or didn't do. The audience is not backstage to see and hear what is going on. All they know is that so and so promotions is putting on this show. They are relying on you to deliver what you promised.

Your name is the beacon drawing people into a venue; protect that by making wise decisions before you plan a show around any artist. The artist will always walk away, knowing that there is another promoter out there, some with easy money, ready to put on a show. They don’t always feel like they have anything to lose. Like spoilt children, they will continue to act a certain way until they are disciplined.

The old saying is that the music business is 10% music and 90% business. Get to that level and trust me, any and every artist will step correct, when you approach them to do a show.

So, who’s to be blame? In my opinion the promoters will have to tek this one and eat it. You have all created a monster that is chewing your a**&@ off.

Mi deh yah now!

Reggaedis

Back

[Home]  [Happenings]  [Iwa]   [Word of Mouth]   [Photo Gallery]   [Spotlight]  [Travelogue]  [Words Of Wisdom]  [In The News] [Contact]   [Comments]

MORECULTURE.COM      COPYRIGHT 2003    J. MCFARQUHAR

For graphics info contact Jahja@yahoo.com